(VOVworld) – Tensions in the East Sea have resulted from China’s tough actions, said Hugo Swire, British Minister of State for East Asia early this week at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the East Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015. Reuters/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

Swire said a ruling expected in the next few months in an international arbitration case the Philippines has brought against China’s claim must be binding. Britain and the US will ask China to abide by the ruling. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said Wednesday that Britain needs to be neutral on the East Sea issues, adding that China will not accept nor participate in the Philippines’ lawsuit against China.

Chunying responded to a request from the US Defense Department that China not deploy military jets to man-made islands in disputed waters in the East Sea by saying the aircraft deployment serves humanitarian purposes. A Defense Department spokesperson said he is skeptical about the deployment and urged China to respect its commitment not to land aircraft and ships on disputed islands.